Gan the Icelander. Byugh-Jargal

One of the most popular and widely read classics of French literature, the author of the world-famous novels "Notre Dame de Paris", "Les Misérables", "The Man Who Laughs", Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885) is represented in this volume by his debut novels - "Gan Islander" and "Bug-Jargal". Both works were created in the 1820s, both are interesting not only from the point of view of Hugo's own evolution, striking with his early talent and later creative longevity, but also in the context of the formation of such a relevant for modern literature genre as the historical novel. The published novels appeared at the crossroads of two eras - Enlightenment and Romantic, and therefore absorbed both the tradition of the Gothic, dating back to G. Walpole, A. Radcliffe and M. - G. Lewis, and a lively interest in the romance. Lewis, and the lively interest of the Romantics in various kinds of exoticism (colorful-southern, as in "Byug-Jargal", or dusky-northern, as in "Ghana Iceland"), to folk tales and, finally, to history, which is vividly embodied in the work of Walter Scott.

Released at the height of the "fashion for the terrible" in France, "Gan Icelandic" is full of adventures of heroes who find themselves in a gloomy fortress-prison, then in the "enchanted" caves, meeting on their way executioner and monk, noble in their aspirations rebels and cunning ruthless courtiers. But the title character of "Gan the Icelander" - a monster, either a man or a beast, bloodthirsty and merciless - and his only friend, a giant polar bear, as the reader learns, are not the main enemies of the noble young man who set out on a dangerous journey to save the honor and life of his beloved girl and the old count, her father. The main evil that he has to defeat is the dastardly perfidy of the old count's enemies and his own ill-wishers. Romantic entourage - descriptions of the harsh nature of the north of Norway, folk life, superstitions and legends that largely determine the life of peasants, fishermen and hunters, court manners of the old era, finally, the mystical halo, which always surrounds in the minds of people the last year of the passing century (the action of the novel takes place in 1699) - gives the plot fascination and vividness, and a happy denouement, when all the villains are punished, and love, loyalty and honor triumph, gives hope for a cloudless future of noble heroes.

The novel "Gan Islander" caused a heated discussion in literary circles and became a source of inspiration for other writers. The young Gerard de Nerval was so impressed by Hugo's work that, with the author's permission, he used the story and wrote a prose melodrama in three acts, which the reader will find in the "Supplements" section.

In the novel "Byug-Jargal" action takes place also in exotic lands and also in a critical era, but it is a turning point of a completely different kind: in 1789 in France begins the revolution, and in its overseas territories intensify the struggle for autonomy, and then for the full independence of the colonies. Now and then flaring up revolts of black slaves lead to a full-scale uprising on the island of Santo Domingo. The main characters of the novel - individuals extraordinary, powerful, original - by virtue of historical circumstances beyond their control find themselves in warring camps. But they are bound by the bonds of sincere friendship, mutual gratitude, brotherly respect and loyalty, and this puts the heroes before a difficult moral choice. Love, honor, loyalty, freedom, human dignity - these are the values (although each of the two have their own and in many ways contradict each other), for which enter into a dangerous struggle romantic heroes Hugo. The tense and dynamic plot develops against the background of the original realities of tropical islands and turbulent historical times. This plot, however, does not have a happy ending. It will take decades of struggle, grief and blood, defeat and victory to reach a happy ending.

The volume includes a detailed scientific apparatus, which was created with the participation of leading researchers of the writer's work, and in the design were used the rarest engravings and lithographs, which were published as part of the ancient bibliophile rarities and are not known to the discerning domestic audience. The book is printed on coated paper and contains about 150 illustrations, including color ones.